Comments about ‘LDS Church merges European offices’

Is membership not growing in that area?

May not be an issue of membership not growing. It might be that membership is growing faster in many areas on the continent, and they needed a more central location.

No, membership has been shrinking in Europe. Ask anyone who has served over there; it's a lucky missionary who baptizes more than one or two people his whole mission and these are usually immigrants, not native Europeans. I'm not sure why they're less interested in the church over there than anywhere else (outside of maybe Japan). Maybe they're just jaded about religion, given the history of religious strife on the continent.

Is it just me or do the words "consolidate" and "ranks" seem a little wierd in describing the church?

Look, its an AP story. That organization has a liberal bent to it and anything religious is going to characterized in Business terms. They treat businesses like Satan. They treat Satan like God. And they treat God like business. Its a pathetic charade in the media. Word choice. AP does it all the time in the name of neutrality. Sheesh.

The wording may seem a little different than what members would use in describing the Church, because the article was written by the Associated Press (AP).

"consolidate" and "ranks" what is this? the friggen military? Come on. And yes, I served my mission in Sweden, and the people over there couldn't care less about the church. The members are stalwart, but the church is growing soooo slow. I only had 2 babtisms, and just like KM stated, one was a chilean girl, and the other was a true swede. The church isn't sending missionarys to europe in drobes because they know that a missionary in south america will baptize 30 times more people. Europeans are well to do, european union loving folk. They belong to their state churches, and arent poor and in tune like south american folk.

Yea, I agree the wording used elicits an anti-mormon bias. To use the term "boasts" 13 million members worldwide is a clear give-away... hardly objective language. Should use language like "claims" which is more objective and, well, less "boastful."

They treat businesses like Satan? And they Treat Satan Like God? Therefore they treat businesses like God? What?

If you see the word play between a retired general and increasing membership then "ranks" fits well, and journalists frequently play with words. That is their job after all.

Yeah, I don't know if the AP got it right on this one. I don't think there is a single denomination that is actually growing in Europe. In fact, most denominations are bleeding out of membership in a big way. I would love to hear that the office consolidation is due to an increasing LDS membership, but I am doubtful that this is the case. At best, we are stagnating in Europe. Perhaps AP meant that church leadership is gearing for a push to reverse membership trends, and is consolidating offices to a more continental mainland location in preparation for this.

Hopefully this is a good organizational move. Having served a mission in Italy, I can attest that the church has some serious work to do there. There are of course many amazing church members over there, but they too often lack adequate organizational support needed to thrive and have to get by too often on white-knuckled faith and effort. I'm usually not for increased centralization, but something has got to happen in order to help strengthen the branches and wards, which are full of 1st-generation converts who can struggle with the transition to LDSdom. We'll see how this goes. Pray for the church in Europe. If it can grow there, the church will truly become a worldwide juggernaut.

Dave, you're a pot calling the kettle black! Since when does "neutral" translate as "satanic" and "liberal"???

Europe is seeing a decline in all religions and Mormonism is undoubtedly no exception. Europeans don't have many children so internal LDS Church growth is relatively low. Europeans in general are less interested in religion (though they amazingly still obey the law and have loving families-imagine that!) and consequently many of the converts in Europe-from my experience as a missionary-are foreigners who are very transient and tend to go inactive.

Maybe they could outsource the administration to Dubai. They could be much more efficient at processing all the membership resignations.

I think the better questions is why hasn't the DNews not written its own story on the church in Europe and the new offices in Germany. I am sure they could find plenty of great quotes,

The spin people are putting on this article is unbelievable. "It's and AP story, so of course it's anti-Mormon." Or dissecting the definition of the word "consolidate." I mean honestly, the second coming could happen at the Vatican and LDS people would be crying out that in the last days even the very elect will be deceived... and the Lord has clearly been deceived by the Pope.

Hey Folks!

Consolidating the office doesn't mean the membership is shrinking and not growing speedily in "Europe." It means they are moving the office in England and combining it with Frankfurt to be closer to where the church IS growing. . . in Eastern Europe. Church growth is MUCH faster in places like The Ukraine and yes, even Russia.

Ditto on the AP and the liberal slant. It's interesting that you REALLY can't find a truly objective news organization. Funny enough, the closest I've seen is The Christian Science Monitor.

Just because someone doesn't want to change their lives and join your church, doesn't mean they are not "in tune". What a "boastful" and prideful statement. All I hear is how LDS people don't want others dictating how they should live (ex: gay marriage) but you will not let others live their lives and believe what they want. I am happy and fulfilled and yes, "in tune".

That is simply not true KM. I just returned from my mission two years ago and my husband did more than 3 years ago. The church is growing (not shrinking) and I don't know any missionaries who didn't see baptisms. I saw multiple German baptisms and I was NOT the exception. Meanwhile I've taught at the MTC and kept in contact with many of my missionaries who are indeed seeing success.